Clock



Sept.15,1964 G-V. MARLOW 3,148,498

CLOCK Fil'ed June 6, 1962 m i x IIIIEQ:

INVENTOR.

Garaar. Y/Varlam BY W United States Patent 3,148,498 CLOCK Gordon V. Marlow, 110 E. Main St., Madison, Wis. Filed June 6, 1962, Ser. No. 200,415 2 Claims. (QR. S26) This invention relates to electric clocks and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved clock of this kind.

It is a main object of the invention to provide an electric clock in which a figure representing an animal is moved upwardly over a vertically disposed scale, indicating hours and fractions thereof, to indicate the time of day, which animal is released when the top of the scale is reached and returned by gravity to the starting point at the bottom of the scale.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetically operated mechanism for releasing the animal when it reaches the top of the scale, which mechanism operates in a positive manner.

Further objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned here, will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the clock with the front face removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. 1, with the adjacent side wall removed;

FIG. 3is an elevational view of the front face of the clock drawn to a reduced scale; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the release lever mounting.

In its preferred form, the clock of the present invention is housed in a rectangular housing that is disposed with its longer sides vertically. Mounted within the housing upon a suitable mounting plate is a synchronous motor of the clock type, that is connected through a suitable gear train to a shaft that has fixed upon it a sprocket wheel. Located at the top of the housing upon a suitable mounting plate is a shaft upon which a collar and a sprocket wheel are loosely mounted.

The housing is closed by a front panel member which contains a vertically disposed slot. Mounted upon the rear face of this panel is a bracket to which an indicating finger is attached by means extending through the slot. This bracket carries a lever which engages lugs carried by a chain which encircles the sprocket wheels and is driven at a uniform rate by the motor.

A scale indicating hours and fractions of an hour, beginning with l at the bottom and extending upwardly through 12 to l at the top is carried on the front face member of the clock adjacent the slot therein. The pointer or finger is thus capable of indicating time as it is driven upwardly by the clock motor.

Also disposed within the housing is an electric switch of the well known snap action type, and a solenoid the circuit of which is closed by the switch. The operating arm of the switch is positioned in the path of the pivoted lever on the bracket so that the switch is operated when the indicator registers with the figure 1 located at the top of the scale. Operation of the solenoid moves a rod that is attached to the collar on the upper shaft, thereby to accomplish two purposes: first, to strike a gong indicating the hour of 1 and to engage the pivoted lever thereby to move it out of engagement with the lug on the chain to free the bracket and indicator which are then pulled by gravity downwardly through the slot, to the bottom of the scale. The lever then engages a second lug 3, l Patented Sept. 1 5, 1 964 on the chain and the indicator is moved upwardly by the clock motor as before.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein it will be seen that the housing consists of a back plate 1, side members 2 and 3, and end members 4 and 5, all of which are preferably composed of wood, such as birch for example. Positioned within the housing near the bottom end wall 5 thereof are supports 6 to which a mounting plate 7 is attached in convenient manner. This plate 7 carries an electric motor 8 of the synchronous clock motor type, the shaft 9 of which carries a pinion which meshes with reducing gears in dicated generally at 10 to a shaft 11 to which a sprocket wheel 12 is fixed in convenient manner.

Synchronous motors of the so-called clock type are available with various speeds of the output shaft of the motor and capable of supplying various torques. The particular gear reduction necessary in the gear train 10 will, of course, depend upon the speed of the output shaft of the motor employed.

Also mounted within the housing, on suitable supports 15 located near the top end wall 4, is a second mounting plate 16 which supports a shaft 17 upon which a collar 18 and a sprocket wheel 19 are loosely mounted and retained in convenient manner, such as by a cotter pin 20. A chain 21 encircles sprocket wheels 12 and 19 and is driven by the sprocket wheel 12 through the action of the motor 8.

Fixed upon the chain 21 are lugs 22, preferably three in number and uniformly spaced apart.

The housing thus formed is closed by a front plate or panel 25 of pleasing contour and preferably composed of a decorative wood, such as walnut, mahogany, maple, or the like, finished to harmonize with the decor of the room in which the clock is used. The front panel contains a vertically disposed slot 25. A scale starting with l at the bottom and extending upwardly through 12 to 1 at the top is disposed alongside of the slot 26.

The spaces between adjacent hour indicating numerals contain marks preferably indicating half and quarter hours, although other fractional hour indicators may be used if desired.

The indicator marks and numerals comprising this scale may be in the form of metallic members composed of a metal such as bronze which contrasts with the material and finish of the front member so as to be clearly visible. If desired, the indicating marks and numerals may be painted upon the front panel.

Mounted upon the rear face of the front panel 25 is a bracket 27 to which a pointer 28 is fixed in suitable manner, such as by screws 29, that extend through the bracket and slot 26. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the pointer 28 consists of a figure of a mouse and the front plate 25 of the clock contains the well known jingle Hickory Dickory Dock The Mouse Ran Up the Clock positioned in a suitable panel at the bottom of the front member 25, as indicated at 34 As will be seen best in FIG. 4, a lever 31 is pivotally mounted upon the bracket 27, the lever being L-shape and when in its normal position as shown in full lines in this figure the shorter arm 32 of the lever is disposed in the path of the lugs 22 on the chain 21. A spring 33 fixed between the lever 31 and the bracket 27 maintains the lever in this position.

Fixed upon the mounting plate 16 is a switch 35 which preferably is a snap action switch of the well known Micro-Switch type. The operating arm 36 of this switch is positioned so as to be engaged by the lever 31. Also mounted upon the plate 16 is a solenoid 37 the circuit of which is closed by an operation of the switch 35. The collar 18 has attached to it a rod 38 which extends between operate pins on the armature 39 of the solenoid. The rod extends downwardly and contains a hammer 40 adapted to strike a gong 41 when the solenoid is operated. The lower end of the arm 38 will strike the lever 31, rotating that lever clockwise, as seen in FIG. 4, thereby to disengage the arm 32 thereof from the lug 22 on the chain. This frees the bracket and indicator 28, causing gravity to pull the same down to the bottom of the slot 26 where the bracket engages a bumper 42 composed of a resilient material such as rubber. Movement of the lever 31 out of engagement with the switch arm 36 causes that switch to restore, thereby opening the circuit of the solenoid, and a spring 43 positioned between the lever 38 and a post on the mounting plate 16 rotates the rod 38 clockwise, as seen in FIG. 1, which rotation is stopped by a suitable stop 44 carried by the mounting plate 16.

Through this arrangement of a positive disengagement of the lever from the lugs on the chain, excess loading of the clock motor 8, as would result if the lever were moved out of engagement with the lug by a camming action, is thus definitely avoided. The amount of force required to operate the switch 35 and the distance of travel of the arm 36 to effect such an operation are both small and hence the danger of stalling the clock motor and hence throwing the clock out of time are eliminated.

Mounted within the framework of the gear train supporting plate 7 is a reset lever 45 through the operation of which the shaft 11 may be rotated to set the clock to indicate correct time in known manner.

In one instance the clock is of such dimension that the distance between adjacent numerals of the scale is exactly two inches and the shaft 11 is rotated at such a speed as to move the pointer exactly two inches per hour. This speed and the length of the scale and slot may be varied within the teachings of the invention.

While it is preferable to use wood in the housing and front panel of the clock, the use of other materials therein is contemplated. When wood is used, it may be either solid or veneered, as desired.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a new and improved clock of ornamental design which is as reliable as an accurate timekeeper as are the synchronous clock motors now available.

While I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clock having a vertically disposed slot alongside a scale that is divided into hours and fractions thereof, and in which an indicating device is moved upwardly by means extending through said slot and carrying a pivoted lever that engages a lug on a chain that is driven by a synchronous electric clock; apparatus for operating said lever to disengage the same from said lug when the indicating device reaches a predetermined point on said scale, which apparatus comprises:

(a) A pivoted rod, spring pressed into a normal position and operable therefrom to strike said lever;

(b) a solenoid having an armature operatively connected to said rod;

(c) a normally open snap action switch included in a circuit to said solenoid and operable to close said circuit;

(d) an operating lever for said switch extending into the path of the lug on said chain and being moved thereby to close the switch when said indicator device reaches said predetermined point thereby to operate said solenoid which moves said rod to strike said lever and thereby disengage the same from said 'lug, freeing the indicating device for movement to the bottom of said scale.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 which includes a gong and in which a hammer on the rod strikes the gong as the rod moves to an operated position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Porter May 2, 1911 Wynne Mar. 13, 1962 Germany, application No. 1,061,874, printed July 23, 1959. 

1. IN A CLOCK HAVING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SLOT ALONGSIDE A SCALE THAT IS DIVIDED INTO HOURS AND FRACTIONS THEREOF, AND IN WHICH AN INDICATING DEVICE IS MOVED UPWARDLY BY MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND CARRYING A PIVOTED LEVER THAT ENGAGES A LUG ON A CHAIN THAT IS DRIVEN BY A SYNCHRONOUS ELECTRIC CLOCK; APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SAID LEVER TO DISENGAGE THE SAME FROM SAID LUG WHEN THE INDICATING DEVICE REACHES A PREDETERMINED POINT ON SAID SCALE, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES: (A) A PIVOTED ROD, SPRING PRESSED INTO A NORMAL POSITION AND OPERABLE THEREFROM TO STRIKE SAID LEVER; (B) A SOLENOID HAVING AN ARMATURE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROD; (C) A NORMALLY OPEN SNAP ACTION SWITCH INCLUDED IN A CIRCUIT TO SAID SOLENOID AND OPERABLE TO CLOSE SAID CIRCUIT; (D) AN OPERATING LEVER FOR SAID SWITCH EXTENDING INTO THE PATH OF THE LUG ON SAID CHAIN AND BEING MOVED THEREBY TO CLOSE THE SWITCH WHEN SAID INDICATOR DEVICE REACHES SAID PREDETERMINED POINT THEREBY TO OPERATE SAID SOLENOID WHICH MOVES SAID ROD TO STRIKE SAID LEVER AND THEREBY DISENGAGE THE SAME FROM SAID LUG, FREEING THE INDICATING DEVICE FOR MOVEMENT TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID SCALE. 